Chicago-area residents should make sure they have a plan for shelter as the region faces potential tornadoes, heavy winds and rain from severe storms set to hit the area Monday evening, according to meteorologists from the National Weather Service Chicago.
Severe thunderstorms bringing gusts of wind 80 mph or higher and up to 5 inches of rain are set to hit the area beginning around 6 p.m., per social media updates from the NWS. The weather service upgraded its threat assessment to a level 4 of 5 late Monday afternoon.
A flood watch is in effect from 6 p.m. Monday to 3 a.m. Tuesday, with flooding risks highest in urban areas that have seen substantial rainfall, per NWS social media.
The city’s office of Emergency Management and Communications warned late Monday afternoon of possible underpass, viaduct and street flooding and advised residents to seek shelter in the event of an emergency weather alert, move valuables out of areas prone to flooding and ensure they had multiple ways to receive weather information. The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District has also asked residents to reduce their water usage to keep sewers and drains clear ahead of the rainfall, according to the OEMC advisory.
Gino Izzi, a NWS senior meteorologist, cautioned that while conditions looked “increasingly favorable” for severe thunderstorms, their impact would likely vary across Chicagoland, northwest Indiana and southern Wisconsin.
“If a storm develops and sits in one spot they could end up with 5 inches of rain and someone a few miles away could end up with very little rain,” he said.
The evening will also bring the potential for tornadoes, Izzi said. He urged residents to think about the safest place to take shelter before severe weather moves in.
“Well before a tornado warning is issued, you should have a plan in place about what you need to do,” he said.
For high-rise dwellers, the safest place would likely be an interior hallway, he said. People with basements should shelter there, or in a bathroom in the absence of a basement.
Residents should also consider whether they are in an area susceptible to flooding, Izzi added. People in flood-prone areas may want to check their basements to make sure they are clear of any belongings they want to protect.